The infamous bronze statue of Real Madrid and Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has been replaced at Madeira airport, but locals have launched a petition to have the much-derided original reinstalled.

The bust received a torrent of criticism on social media and made headlines all over the world after it was unveiled in March 2017.

Former Burnley, Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton quipped it looked more like retired Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn, while others likened the work Jim Carrey’s The Mask, the head from Art Attack and Roger Klotz from cartoon series Doug.

Greater likeness

But now the mocked artwork has been replaced by a new version with a greater likeness to the forward. The switch took place on the same day as Portugal’s 3-3 draw with Spain in their World Cup opening fixture – a game that saw Ronaldo score a hat-trick.

Airport director Duarte Ferreira told Madeira Island News that he was “saddened by this whole situation”, adding that it was Ronaldo’s family requested that the bust be changed through the CR7 Museum, which is also on the island.

However, Madeirans have launched a petition to bring back the original, which was created by local artist Emanuel Santos.

Lack of respect

“We consider [its removal] a total lack of respect for the Madeiran people of humble traditions,” the petition reads.

“The bust is more an attraction for our island today and we can not accept in any way its replacement.”

The original sculptor revealed in an interview with Bleacher Report in March that criticism of his work had upset his family and made him feel “isolated”.

Cristiano Ronaldo in Madeira and the statue in his honour by local artist Emanuel Santos (Getty)

Bleacher Report commissioned Mr Santos to have a second attempt at the bust, which he completed in order to show his son that “if he enjoys doing something very much, [he] doesn’t let himself be defeated by negative criticism.”

It is not yet known what will happen to the original artwork, although the airport do still have it in safe keeping.

Ronaldo was born on the autonomous Portuguese territory, before moving to Lisbon to join Sporting aged 12.

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